Massecuite treating apparatus



Aug. 28, 1934. s, s. PECK MASSECUITE TREATING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 5,1934 2 y Sheets-Sheet 1 K 3mm/1to1', @awe/511.22%

Aug. 28, 1934. s. s. PEcK vMAvssEcUITE TREATING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 5,1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 gmc/nto@ Patented ug. 28, 1934 l 1,971,873 MrissiicUrrEV TREATING APPARATUS Y Samuel S. Peck, Honolulu, Territory IofHawaii Application'xanuafy 5, 1934, serial No. 705,437 n 6 cnims. (cl.257-104) Y The invention relates to the sugar industry and has specialreference to the treatment of massecuite.

The principal object of the invention is to pro- .5 vide a device whichwill warm massecuite, which for the purpose of reducing its viscositybut theV great diiculty which has'becnexperienced in eX- isting deviceslies in preventing local overheating when heating water of suicientlyhigh temperature is used. Furthermore there have always been certainportions of the mass which do'not move readily and then there usuallyoccursV solu-' tion of some of the crystals.

It is with these facts in View and other contemplated improvements whichwill hereinafter become apparent, that I have devised the presentinvention which has for a very important object the provision of amassecuite treating apparatus by means of which the mass may bepositively and uniformly heated throughout Without any danger oflocalfoverheating with the resultant disadvantages thereof, and with theassurance of posi-` tive displacement of the treatedmaterial by they-incoming supply, all these factors contributing to the realizationofthe highest degree of eniciency.

A more specic obj ect ofthe invention is to'pro-` vide an apparatus ofthis character embodying concentrically larranged rotary helical coilsthrough which circulates a constant supply of water at a desiredtemperature for heating thermass of massecuite to the proper degree,"the rotation of theV coils insuring the bringing of all portions thereofinto intimate contact with all portions of the mass so that the heatingeffect will be entirely uniform.

The invention further contemplates, 'under some circumstances and ifsuchV is desirable, the circulation of coldwater through the coilsinstead of hot water though this is but a secondary object as comparedwith the importance of the mainone. y Another object-of the inventionisr'to`provide an apparatus of this character of such'construction andcombination of parts as will permit satisfactory control of the travelof the mass through the' device, this being dependent upon the head ofthe inflowing mass. r i

Yet anotherobject is to provide'an apparatus vof thischaracterin'which'circulation of the mass willi-be effected in such manner as toinsure displacement of all of the treatedmaterial by the incoming newsupply to avoid over-treating any portions. Y Y V An additional objectis to provide an apparatus 6P; of this character which will` becomparatively 'simple and inexpensive to manufacture and assemble, easyto operate` and control, positive in action, efiicient and durable inservice, and a general improvementrin the art. Y Y

Tothe attainment ofthe foregoing and other objects and advantages, theinvention preferably consists in the details of construction and thearrangement and combination of parts to be hereinafter more fullydescribed and claimed, and il- 7.9; lustrated in the accompanyingdrawingsV in l which: i Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal sectionalview. through the apparatus,

Figure 2 isA a cross section on Figure` 1,

Figure` 3 is a section on the line 3f3-of Figure `1.

Referring to the drawings,.1 indicates a generally cylindrical tankhavingan open top with 89 a discharge or outlet coupling-2 at one sideand adrainage or clean out opening 3 in the bottom normally closed by ascrew plug 4. The supply of massecuite or other `liquid to be treated isby means of a pipe 5 located above the open top and 8;@directed'downwardly and toward the vertical axis ofthetank.- V Y Securedtothetop of tank lis a supporting framework comprising channel sections10 and 11, which are secured to thel side walls ofthe 90. tank bybrackets l2, said frameworkcarrying a housing 13 ,and a bracket-likejournal bearing 14. Journaled in the bracket 14 and the housing 13 is ashaft l5 adapted .to be driven by any suitable transmission from aconvenient source ofV 9 power, saidshaft having fast on the portionenthe linea- 2 of 7.5

`closed in the housing 13 a worm 16Y which meshes with a worm wheel.F7-secured upon a hollow shaft section 18 `journaled in bearings in thehousing 13. 1 y

The. upper end of the shaft is connected toa swivel, coupling 19 whichinv turn is connected with the Water supply pipe 20. `The` lower end oftheV hollow shaft section 18 is closed by fa plug 18.

AConnected to the side of the hollow shaft`18 by a horizontal pipesection 22 is` a helical coily 23 which extends "downwardly within theltank and ris connected at its lower end, by Ymeans of a-pipey section24, Withca coaxialhelical.;coil25, 1 10 fic the upper end of which isconnected by a pipe section 26 with a centrally disposed hollow shaft2'7, the upper end of which is telescopically connected with the lowerend of the hollow shaft 18, the lower end being journaled in a thrustbearing 28 mounted in the center of the tank bottom, said H hollow shaftbeing equipped with a valved discharge pipe 29. The helical coils 23 and25 are preferablyof opposite pitches, so that the rotation of thecoilsin the tank will have a certain beneficial action to be describedhereinafter.

Disposed between the coils 23 and 25 is a cylindrical shell 30 open attop and bottom and into which the above mentioned feed pipe .or spoutdischarges. The shell extends 'thefulllength `of the coils andterminates above Ythe bottom of the tank. This shell is connected to thehollow shaft section 2'7 at the top and bottom by meansV4 4of strap-likebrackets 3l and 35, respectively.

The upper convolution of the inner helical coil 25 l'is'3attached-t-othe upperbracket 31 by lmeans of astrap 'hanger V32 Vand the upperconvolution ofthe l'outer'c'oil23 iis-secured to the shell 30 by meansof a bracket 33 and the U-bolt 34. The lower-convolution of the innerhelical coil 25 is connected to the lower strap-like bracket 35 bymeansofia suitable clamp. It will thus be seen that -`the-hollow shaft'sections 18 and 27, the cylindrical slielll Boland the helical'coils 23and 25 are connected rigidly together and constitute a rotatorysystemwlfiic'hl is `actuatedby theworm gearing 'in theliousing 4:13.

`Infthe operation ofthe apparatus,l thev inassecuite tobe' treatedis'supplied through lthe feed pipefor sjgioutla'ndk passes rst finto theshell 30' from *tliebotto'm l'of vvvhich itlpass'es upwardly into thetank 1, it being of course clear thatboth the'shell 30 andthe tankl'willbe filled. -Hot water at ythe desired ftemperalture is fed to the ofcoils-through1the pipe20 y'andpasses through the swivel joint 19 intothe hollow shaft 18"fr'om whichitflo'ws"throughfthe connection 22 totheupper end of the outer helical coil 23 fromthe lower fendlof "whichit-pa'sses through thecross connection 24 to the -lowerend of theinnercoil 25 and then from the upper I end thereof 'through the' connection-26 into fthe hollow shaft y27 and out through thevalved outlet pipe 29.Of course it'is intended that 4'the-systerncomposed of the shell' 30 andI innerand 'outerlcoils together with the hollow shaft 2'? beIrotatedand this lis-accomplished by means of power appliledto the worm`16"-vvhich kwill drivethe Iworm whe'el 1'7 and `consequently"'effectvrotation `of the hollow shaftlS together `with the'coils'and shell 30.

Thel rate of Arotation rdepends vupon Vconditions which 'may vexist andy"virhatever fis 'found to' be most satisfactory. Asthe `coilsarerotated and particularly by virtue of the factvthatfthey are preferablyof oppositepitch, it should be" clear that `the-'entire massi ofnias'secuitel contained within the ftank'in passing constantlythrough itfrom the feedfpipe'toithe" discharge tubefwill bei subjected'to theheatingfactionof the water within the coils so that all portions ofvthernassV willbeeffectually heated. Them-coming material :is'fof coursefirst -facted uponby thefinner coil 25=fandas it flows out "ofthe-bottom Vof the shell 3'0, onacco'unt'of the head' of 'the materialflowing into the top of the shell it will pass out, aroundandamongf'the' outer coils. There is consequently 'a constant' stream ofthe material flowing inl intimatecontactwith the two setsV of coils brYIin other words 'Y av very fe'ffective 'circulation and theirdifference in pitch, will operate to insure uniform heating throughoutthe mass and prevent danger of localized overheating of any portionsthereof. g The circulation system is such that there will be nopossibility of stagnation, as it were, of any portions of the mass as isthought will be apparent.

While the apparatus is intended primarily for the heattreatinent ofmassecuite it will be evident that it could also 'be-used for coolingpurposes, by the simple expedient of passing cold instead of hot waterthrough the coils. Moreover while the device is described asparticularly designed for the treatment of massecuite, yet atfthe same"time it is easily capable of employmentfor treating other liquids byeither heating them orcooling them, as the case may be, there beingnaturally no limitation as to the '1 exact Acharacter of the materialworked upon.

From the foregoing descriptionand a study ofthe `drawings it will'beapparent that-I .have thus .provided 1an extremely simple .andfeasilyoperated and controlled device for the purpose specified-landonewhichA-will eiciently perform all thefunctions for"which itisintended. l

addition, -.the construction involves :butxfewparts which are simplyarranged and there isconsefluently no likelihoodcfderangement sothat themechanism should Ihavea"longtand satisfactory life. Itis yreally'believed from .the aabove that the construction, operation land4:advantages .will be readily apparent to one skilledin'the art without'further iexplanation.

While I :have shown sandfdescr'ibedtthe preferred embodiment @of thefiinvention, 4-it 'should be understood that lthe disclosureisxrnerelyzan exempliiication ofthe principles vinvolved as :the rightis Vreserved .to make :all suchchangesinithe details of construction:'asfwill'widen the 1 eld of utility rand increase the l.adaptability ofthe device provided such` changes. constitute no Iuieparture :from thespirit of zthezinvention :or :the scope of they' 'claims hereunto.appended rvHaving thusfdescribed' the 1invention,. In claim: 1. 'An*apparatusl :for treating liquid material, comprising fai `tank havingan .inlet .at v iits ...top andialso having :ian outlet, Ia rotaryyassembly journaled within said tank and including :an :inner -helicalscoil, Van 'outer I helical coil. connected in vseries with ithe Sinnercoil,1,and1 a 4zshell located 'betweentheinn'err and outer `coils` andterminating short: of thebottom -of :the tank,;means for yrotatingf-saidassemblygzand means {for-establishing fa' circulation iof liquidthroughusaid coils in series. i

42. An apparatus \for treating viscous liquids, comprising :a "tank:havingf an outlet -and lhaving an inlet at its Atop,'a rotatablydrivenassembly located axially withinrthe tankand including a verticallyYarranged'supporting shaft; avertically extending inner helicalcoilrsurrounding said shaft, arvertically extendingihelical coilarranged concentiically labout'zandfspaced Ffrom said inner coil,`V`andi a cylindrical shell :disposed erbetween the Yinner .and outercoils,=the z lower end .of the outer'coilfbeing connected `withthellower end of the inner coil, means for supplyingyliquid' to theupper fendfxof'ithe .outentcoil'g and means for .discharging liquid.L:fromthe: upper end: of c the inner coil., l f.

3.1.2'A mixing apparatus;.lcornprisingl va :tanky4 a hollow-shaftrotatable therein,A aCshelLiopen z at top. and bottom securedtoisa'idilshafthelical tubular :coilsfofaopposite i pitch adisposed'@Within Aand .Without :said shell land lconnectedinrcontinuous seriesbetween the inlet and outlet ends of said shaft, and means for rotatingsaid shaft, shell and coils. Y

4. A mixing apparatus, comprising a tank, a hollow shaft rotatabletherein and having a stopper between Aits ends, fluid supply anddischarge connections to the respective ends of said shaft, helicaltubular coils of opposite pitch connected in series with said shaft atopposite sides of said stopper, a hollow shell carried by said shaft andinterposed between said coils, and means for rotating said shaft, shelland coils.

5. vA mixing apparatus, \comprising a tank having an inlet communicatingwith the ltop thereof and a discharge at a lower level, a shell open attop and bottom mounted in said tank, helical tubular coils of oppositepitch disposed within and Without said shell and connected in Vseriesbetween axially disposed inlet and outlet connections, and means forrotating said shell and coils;

6; A Vmixing apparatus, comprising a tank, a hollow shaft having inletand discharge connections mounted in said tank and provided with astopper intermediate its length, helical tubular coils of opposite pitchdisposed in axial relation about said shaft and connected in series withsaid shaft on opposite sides of said stopper, a hollow cylindrical shellcarried by said shaft and interposed between said coils, and meansmounted above the tank for driving said shaft, shelland coils'.

SAMUEL S. PECK.

